Merchandise Planner

Ralph Lauren Corporation; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A premium lifestyle brand based in London is seeking an Established Planner to join the Menswear team. The role is hybrid, requiring two days in the office weekly. You will drive sales and stock performance while collaborating with cross-functional teams. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical skills and proven experience in planning tools, effective communication, and a results-oriented mindset. Join a dynamic team where you will lead and mentor others, all while contributing to the brand's success.

Qualifications

• Experience in planning and forecasting tools is essential.
• Ability to convey messages clearly to a variety of audiences.
• Competence in organizing and prioritizing tasks effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead department trade and take necessary actions.
• Drive channel performance and availability.
• Accountable for managing WSSI and inventory processes.
• Support formulation of long-term forecasts.

Skills

Strong analytical mindset

Effective communication

Autonomous and results-oriented

Problem-solving skills

Entrepreneurial attitude

Microsoft Excel proficiency

Tools

BI reporting tools

Job description

Overview

Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands.

At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all. We foster a culture of inclusion through: Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups and Celebration.

Position Overview

We are seeking an Established Planner to join our Menswear team in a permanent role, based at our New Bond Street / Cork Street London offices. This is a hybrid position, with two days per week in the office.

This role plays a key part in driving sales, stock, and margin performance, partnering closely with cross-functional teams to deliver against Ralph Lauren's commercial and brand objectives.

Responsibilities

• Leads department trade and takes necessary actions, with awareness of impact to topline business
• Drives channel performance and availability
• Drives and optimises line card process and communicates impacts to department KPI's to key stakeholders
• Accountable for WSSI management and understands brand positioning and department impact to total channel WSSI
• Works alongside key stakeholders to support the formulation of the category long term forecast
• Oversees inventory management process, assessing long and short term risks and opportunities against department EOH stock targets and average stock turn, and influencing key stakeholders to implement solutions
• Accountable for hindsight process and successfully delivers the strategy
• Leads OTB process, influencing buying counterparts to meet department KPI's through optimising buying strategies and OTB management
• Accountable for overseeing seasonal markdowns
• Sets department priorities and works efficiently
• Uses knowledge of brand positioning and market analysis to help shape future strategies
• Oversees regular store visits and competitor reviews

Leadership & Team

• Clearly defines and articulates expectations and sets stretch goals for the team
• Coaches and trains team, helping them to acquire the skills and knowledge to be more effective
• Regularly reviews team's progress
• Empowers team wellness and prioritises team psychological safety
• Leads with confidence, delegating tasks effectively
• Provides candid feedback to individual team members to improve performance
• Identifies talent within the team and devotes time to developing talent
• Addresses underperformance and supports those in need of development
• Builds a sense of shared ownership of responsibility within the team

Communications & Partnerships

• Creates and maintains strong working relationships within key stakeholders
• Aligns and updates stakeholders on strategies and business goals
• Manages cross-functional projects and processes, leveraging stakeholders' knowledge
• Delivers on process and efficiency optimisation

Experience, Skills & Knowledge

• Strong analytical mindset and experience in using planning and forecasting tools and systems
• Effective communicator - able to convey messages clearly to a variety of audiences
• Able to work autonomously, results-oriented and able to think outside the box
• Able to demonstrate logical analysis and problem-solving skills
• Solution-oriented with an entrepreneurial attitude
• Able to organize, prioritise tasks and manage time to meet deadlines
• Confidently and respectfully challenges others' opinions
• Self-awareness of personal impact on others and seeks feedback for improvement
• Able to build and maintain productive relationships within a team
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and BI reporting tools
• Able to demonstrate resilience and remain positive during challenging periods
• Regularly recognises and praises good work
• Leads by example and shows a desire to mentor junior members
• Desire to have fun at work and an appreciation for product